Crocs .. Will you buy these for your children?
As Spring is right around the corner I can’t help but pay attention to the negative attention that Crocs have been getting. I personally think these shoes are ugly and a little spendy for what they are so I don’t buy them for me and I certainly wouldn’t buy them for my kids who will only grow out of them within 2 weeks. I’ve yet to figure out what this trend is all about to begin with. It’s not the fact that these shoes aren’t very stylish that bothers me. What’s bothering me is the lack of knowledge people seem to have as they’re standing around the Croc kiosk at the mall scooping up a pair for their little children. Did they not read about the injuries associated with Crocs and children and escalators? Or do they just have the attitude that it won’t happen to them? Maybe it’s my experiences in life but carrying your superman attitude with you into parenthood is generally not the best idea. Accidents DO happen and if you can prevent it as a parent, why not avoid it? If you aren’t convinced that Crocs are dangerous then you definitely need to read THIS ARTICLE on Momlogic.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received dozens of reports of children getting injured over the last several years. According to Inside Edition Crocs seems to care that this is an issue and is taking steps to ensure that parents are knowledgeable about escalator safety. This is great for the parents.. but WHAT about the kids?! Children who are young don’t understand what this all means and I just don’t see how a little child is going to put those tips and warnings to good use.
We have pediatricians and the Good Housekeeping Research Institute both warning parents to be cautious of these shoes. Which leaves it at this.. where does company responsibility end and where does parent responsibility start? If you knowingly put shoes on your children that could potentially cause injury on an escalator, who’s fault is it really? If you have Crocs for your children, that’s okay, just make sure that YOU know the risks and use the elevator instead of the escalator. But if given the choice, I would stick with regular sandles and shoes. Protect those sweet little feet!
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I just have to offer up my two cents worth…..I for one do not think we need more government involment in telling us how to dress our kids. It should be up to parents to take care of thier own children. What has happened to parent responsibiltiy. Now I went to the places you highlighted and read the articles and this is what stuck out to me
"The entrapment tore the skin off her big toe, and the girl’s family has filed a $7 million lawsuit against Crocs shoes. " Give me a break…&7 million dollars. That is just plain ridiculous. Put a warning label on them DO NOT WEAR ON ESCALATORS Remember when they had to put the warning on McDonald's coffee WARNING THIS COFFEE IS HOT! Yes I will keep buying them for me and for my grandchildren. We will just stay off escalators…
I think they go beyond ugly and it’s one fashion trend I refuse to jump on. You couldn’t pay me to wear those or put them on my kids.
My nieces have crocs, but they wear them outside or at the beach. Very rarely do they wear them out to the mall or some place like that (that only happens if she has no other shoes to wear). I agree with the concern for children wearing crocs, but I also think a large part is parents needing to watch their children and teach children to be careful.
by the way, the Jo Ann comment is really me. My mom used my laptop and didn’t sign off. Sorry.
I must admit I do not like the crocs. I honestly think they are ugly but everyone loves them and my oldest daughter who is 6 has a pair only because her Nana bought them. I did not realize the risks associated with them, and am glad u helped bring awareness to this. Thank you.
Hugs,
Brandy
http://www.writingsofawahm.com
Regular shoes and flip flops are not any safer on escalators. Statistically speaking, more children get their shoe laces, long jeans, and mittens caught in escalators each year than they do Crocs and or other soft rubber type shoes. Crocs were targeted because – when these lawsuits happened – they were the flavor of the week. A company that was making tons of money from out of nowhere. If the shoes were REALLY to blame, how come only KIDS are getting caught in them and not the thousands of adults that wear them too?
In the end, ever think that it’s the 20,000lb hunk of moving metal that’s to blame? Heck – Kevin Smith in Mallrats summed it up best that kids should be taught to Fear and REspect the escalator – LONG before Crocs were ever made…..
I would say no crocs and no flip flops. Idiotic to wear those on escalators. I did read the article about their softness – which flip flops are as well but I also wonder if she was wearing it so that the strap at the back was flipped up.
I agree they’re ugly but they are made extra wide and large so that when I was pregnant they were the only shoes that wound up fitting as my feet went up a size – and unfortunately not because of any swelling. They just got bigger. And I couldn’t find any shoes that fit, unless I wanted to spend extra for special shoes. The ugliness doesn’t bother me anymore because the larger your feet are – the minute they get out of size seven, the uglier the shoes get. Kind of like larger clothes. Sometimes I think clothing manufacturers are either prejudiced or idiots.
Anyway, I’ve lost my baby weight, but not the extra size and half on my feet! Thank goodness for crocs.
WOW I had no idea! My daughter has several pair of the knock off Crocs and I never gave a thought to them being unsafe! Thanks for the eye opener!
I hadn’t heard they were unsafe, but I didn’t jump on that bandwagon. My husband, however, just came home with my daughter’s new pair that she immediately wore all day, and when she isn’t here, my 3-year-old son is running around the house in pink rubber shoes. I don’t like them, but I have talked to many who do. Accidents happen with anything and everything though too. You can get in a car accident, but you still drive a car. I try to stick to tennies because my daughter will forego them in the name of any sandal, flip flop, or slip-on shoe she can. Just laziness and it drives me crazy, but when we are going to be doing a lot of walking anywhere, tennies it is, despite the protests. If we are going to a waterpark, lake, or beach, then they can wear their slip-on shoes.
Nope I won’t!
Kai did that already we will nevr do it again. No way!
Good article. We mostly wear ours at yucky bathrooms at beaches, etc.- not to malls. But it is good to be reminded of the dangers!! Thanks for caring about my kids little tootsies!
Jen
http://raisingcreativeandcuriouskids.blogspot.com
Crocs offer great benefits for health. Just because they are ugly doesnt mean you shouldnt buy them. Check out this article about the health benefits of Crocs The Health Benefits of Croc Shoes
I love your blog and your honesty!
I am passing an award on to you, go to my blog to get it!
Before crocs existed, I worked in a dept store for 5 years and even though there are signs at the escalator saying use the elevator if you have a stroller, people would lift their stroller onto it anyway.
It would be great if Crocs put a warning label on their product but would people listen?
I’ve never bought any, nor do I plan to, but Long Live the Crocs!
My 2 year old LOVES his crocs, probably mostly because he can take them off and put them on himself, and even though it’s winter he still wears them every day. Last summer he wore them in the creek and they were much better than his sandals, which took forever to dry and let rocks get trapped inside. I do agree that they are ugly, but for us they work. Oh, and we are 90 minutes away from the mall or any escalators so we don’t have to worry about that.
My kids are 3 and 4. They have the croc-type slippers. THey are worn strictly around the house. They do not and (as long as I have a say) will not wear them in public.
I am an odd one, because I also hate flip flops. My children do not wear them and I do not see tham as proper foot coverings. I see so many teenagers that walk so badly from the flip flops I want my kids wo walk better than that.
I do buy Crocs for my oldest son who’s 7. However, there are some rules. First of all, we buy a style the PX carries because they’re cheaper. They are also not for the playground. If you want to run around and climb on the playground, then sneakers only. They are OK for running errands, but I’m not even sure we’ve ever encountered an escalator. I’ve always had one kid in a stroller. I’m usually out with both kids or no kids. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve seen an escalator in the last 5 years because we don’t see them. My son also has sensory issues, and putting on shoes can be a painful process on a good day. For whatever reason, Crocs are not an issue for him. They eliminate one battle in our day if we’re going somewhere that they’re appropriate footwear. They’re also a nice alternative to flip flops for the pool for kids who don’t like the little thing between their toes.
In the winter, our whole family wears the Mammoths (fleece lined crocs) as slippers around the house.
There are pros and cons, but you’re right, you have to weigh them and your own family’s situation. And yes, I think they’re beyond fugly LOL.
No I do not buy these shoes for my kids. I have seen these shoes slip off too many kids on the playground. I think they are unsafe and not supportive enough for growing feet